Dini D, Del Mastro L, Gozza A, Lionetto R, Garrone O, Forno G, Vidili G, Bertelli G, Venturini M.
The role of pneumatic compression in the treatment of postmastectomy
lymphedema. A randomized phase III study.
Ann Oncol. 1998 Feb;9(2):187-90.

Divisione di Oncologia Medica I, Istituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul
Cancro, Genova, Italy.
BACKGROUND: Pneumatic compression is a frequently prescribed physical
therapy for patients affected by postmastectomy lymphedema but, despite its
wide use, its efficacy has not been demonstrated in phase III
studies. We performed a randomized study comparing pneumatic compression
versus no treatment in patients with postmastectomy lymphedema. PATIENTS AND
METHODS: Patients with monolateral postmastectomy lymphedema were
randomized to receive two cycles of intermittent pneumatic
compression (PC group), i.e., five two-hour sessions per week for two weeks,
to be repeated after a five-week interval, or to no treatment
(control group). The patients in both groups were instructed as to the
prophylactic hygienic care of the limb. Lymphedema was assessed by the sum
of differences in circumference measurements between affected and
normal limbs ('delta'). Response was defined as a > or = 25%
reduction in delta value. RESULTS: Eighty patients entered the study. No
statistically significant differences in response rates between the two
groups were observed: 20% in the control group (95% CI: 9%-36%), 25% in the
PC group (95% CI: 13%-41%, P = 0.59). The absolute mean decrease in
delta value was 1.9 +/- 3.7 cm in the PC group and 0.5 +/- 3.3 cm in
the control group. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that intermittent
pneumatic compression has a limited clinical role in the treatment of
postmastectomy lymphedema. Efforts to prevent this complication should be
undertaken.
Bemerkung: Hier wurden keine Kompressionsstrümpfe zur Konservierung benutzt.
Bekanntlich ist die Therapie ohne anschließenden
Kompressionstrumpf gering in ihrer Wirkung ..AIK-INFO